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Monday, April 10, 2017

Psalm 16:11, “You have made known to
me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal
pleasures at your right hand.”

As much as I wish spring could be a
bit more dramatic here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, there is much to treasure
about this season. It brings Easter! It
is the most significant event on the Christian calendar because without the
resurrection, there would be no hope.
Easter is pure joy and ushers in a sense of new life and restoration. It meets our greatest need….the promise of
eternity with God.

Something happened several months ago
that painted a picture of Jesus’ tender love. It was a moment that could have passed
without recognition. Praise God, I got
that nudge to pay attention allowing God to teach me something valuable through
the eyes of my grandson – one who is defined as having “special needs” because
he was born with Down syndrome.

Jacob is a solid little boy, 5 years
old, operating on full speed unless he is sleeping. He has mastered sign language, has wonderful
cognitive skills and long, involved conversations illustrated by an
expressive face. He has limited words in
his vocabulary but Jacob sometimes speaks in ways that only God can make
plain…and this moment was one of those times.

Jacob’s daddy (my stepson) lives in a
house fronting Lake Michigan. One day Jacob and I were outside on the deck
watching the horizon for whatever wonderful sights might appear. I sat down to get more on his level. Jacob was “talking” and gesturing and I was
nodding so he would think I was engaged in his conversation.

At one point he reached over, touched
my chin and pointed my face toward the lake, determined to show me whatever was
in his line of vision. I reassured him we were looking in the same direction (again, the head nodding!)

And then….it happened. Jacob bent down (he was standing next to me
and I was still in a sitting position on the deck itself), cupped my face with
his hands and gently leaned into me. I
could hardly breathe for the beauty of the moment. (As I said, this little boy rarely stands
still and makes his wishes known loudly and vehemently.) However, in this moment, time stood
still. It was so very tender and
intimate. Our moment. Jacob’s and mine. And God’s.

As we read the Biblical narrative of
the events taking place before and after “Easter”, how do we see this man,
Jesus? The people of His day loved Him
one moment and called for His death a few days later. They thought He came to rescue them as their
“king” and when He didn’t do that, they were filled with rage.

He surely wasn’t a king in a royal
sense. He said very little when the
accusations flew at Him. He’d had a lot
to say throughout His ministry including words of forgiveness as well as
conviction. Jesus healed many, performed
amazing miracles and taught the people about God and His kingdom. He will come back as a conquering king one
day!

But I believe, my moment with Jacob
out on his deck, was a picture of how Jesus speaks to me in a way that touches my
heart. Just as Jacob wrapped his chubby
little fingers around my face, cupping my cheeks as he leaned into me…so does
Jesus approach me with tenderness and intimacy.

The Bible describes the full drama of
the Easter narrative but I especially cherish reading about His kind, intimate acts: from
the cross Jesus made arrangements for John to care for His mother; when the women discovered the tomb
was empty, Jesus appeared to them so they would be assured He was alive;He allowed Thomas to tenderly touch the nail
holes in His wrists.

Jesus was God in the flesh while on
earth and now lives in heaven. One day He
will return to earth with glory and fanfare.
But in the “now”, I love how He sweetly cups my face in His hands, not
literally but through His Word, and through the love of His earthly
children. When my friend calls to say
she is praying for me, Jesus is speaking words of love. When my seven year old grandson tells me that he
loves and misses me, I experience Jesus.
When my husband affirms and serves me, I know Jesus is on the move in my
life. Easter brings all that to mind. I LOVE
EASTER. Hallelujah!